Carpet-stretcher



(No Model.)

A. 'STOGKDALE.

CARPET STRBTGHBR. No. 370,902. Patented Oct. 4, 1887.

74 1751 eases:

'fiventa UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALEXANDER STOGKDALE, OF VVOLOOTT, IOWA.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,902, dated October 4,1887. Application. filed January 20, 1887. Serial No. 224,923. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER STOCK- DALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the town of Wolcott, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Carpet-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in carpetstretche'rs, in which an arm, with drawbar and clutch attached, is pivoted at its lower end to a foot, which is held by claws or points to the floor; and the object of my improvement is to provide a simple device for pulling or stretching a carpet upon the floor. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a side elevation of the entire machine.

The foot B is upon its under side substantially in form like the letter T, and provided upon said under side with projecting points a, which can be easily forced into the floor A. A standard, I), rises from the top of this foot. A long arm, 0, is pivoted at its lower end to the standard I) by the pivot or bolt 0. On the side of arm 0 are cut notches d. A draw-bar, D, is pivoted at one end to the arm 0 by abolt or pivot, e. Ashort arm, E, is pivoted at one end to the draw-bar D by the bolt or pivotf. The opposite end of said arm E is flattened or bent at right angles, so as to engage in the notches d in arm 0. At the opposite end of draw-bar D is the mechanism for clutching the free end of the carpet, consisting of, a plate, F, which may be of one or more pieces, at tached at right angles to and on the under side of draw-bar D, or may be constructed as a part of said draw-bar D. A deep groove or mouth, 9, is out the entire length of the front side of plate F.

The free end of carpet G is passed partially or entirely around a disengaged flat or beveled bar, h, and the same is then inserted lengthwise into the groove or mouth 9 of plate F. The operator then presses downward with his foot upon foot B, so as to force points a into the floor A, and with his hand pulls forward arm 0, and the free end of the carpet G, being held tightly in plate F by the means described, is pulled forward and stretched. Then by placing the other foot on top of plate F, then disengaging foot B, throwing forward arm 0, and again securing foot B in position by forcing points a in floor A, he can again pull and further stretch carpet G; and continuing this operation until he has sufficiently stretched the carpet, he swings short arm E upward, so that itsupper end will engage the notches d in arm 0, and by this means the carpet is held in position, so he can disengage his hands for the purpose of securing the carpet to the floor by tacking the same immediately in the rear of plate F.

I am aware that it is old in the art to use a draw-bar and clutch to grasp the carpet, its opposite end pivoted or otherwise connected with an arm having its lower end pointed to enter the floor, and a pawl upon the draw-bar held in engagement by a spring with ratchetteeth on the arm, to hold the armin position until stay-tacks can be driven in the carpet. Such device is shown in Letters Patent No. 180,272 to Rivers.

In the combination constituting my improved carpet-stretcher the essential features are the foot B, with its sharp points under- 7 neath, which may be forced into the floor by pressure from the foot of the operator, and the lever-arm hinged upon its upper surface; also the device for grasping the carpet, consisting of the grooved plate F and the disengaged flat or beveled bar h, around which the free end of the carpetis wound, and then inserted in the groove 9 of plate F. A pointed leverarm entering the floor causes injury to the floor; so, too, where jaws are used to grasp the carpet, having grooved or sharp-pointed faces, injury is often done to the carpet. My device avoids both of these objections. While I use in my combination also a structure substantially a pawl and ratchet-teeth interposed between the arm and draw-bar, yet I do not cause engagement between the pawl and ratchet-teeth by any spring device, nor do Iregard this structure, so used by me, as anything more than one element in the entire combination -constituting my improved carpetstretcher.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An improved carpet-stretcher, consisting of foot B andits points a,to engage with the floor, I pivoted to draw-bar D, its opposite end on lever-arm C, with its notches d and pivoted or gaging with notches d, all operating together hinged at its lower end with foot B, draw-bar and substantially as described.

D, pivoted at one end to lever-arm G, and

ALEX. STOOKDALE. 5 grooved plate F, attached at its opposite end, Witnesses:

and bar h,for winding the carpet upon and in- J. XV. STEWART, serting lengthwise in said groove, and arm E, SOL. KoLB. 

